heaton



Feb. 21, 192-8.

N. C. HEATON STENCIL CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed'QQt, 20.1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lg 4% fl FN A, 2 m fl W E F W m W z E fl cwbnao,ILL.

. Feb. 21, 1028. 1,060,000

N, C. HEATON STENCIL CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Oct. 20.1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATEZSI -i NATHAN o. ,I-IEATON, or wnsrnonr, rriariro s,ASSIGNOB T0 MONTGOMERY wean a co, Inc, or CHICAGO, rumors, A conronnrronor rnnnvo s.

STENCIL-CUTTING ATTACHMENT ronr rrnwnlrnns.

Application filed October 20, 1923. Serial No. 689,650,-

3 The present invention has to do with type-- writing machines of theflat-platen type, and

contemplates an attachment therefor which;

maybe utilized for printing, as well as stem cil cutting. y 1

Book or flat-platen typewriting machines frequently are utilized forprinting and stencil cutting in the: making of records.

accurately guiding and locating the head over the. platen and thematerial to be printed or cut. Loss of time results, and the surfaceprinted or cut lacrs uniformity in its location of the matter recordedthereon.

Among the objects sought to be attained by the present invention is theprovision of noveland efiectivemeans which enables the operator toposition the Writinghead at' the proper points on the writing surfacesame substantially fiat on the platen, and

enablethe keys otthe writing head to be operated in the making of therecord with a minimum degree of efiect, as well aswith a maximum degreeof accuracy in the'move ment of the type towards and into contact withthe material to be acted on.

Incidental to the foregoing, the invention also contemplates mechanismofthe character referred to whereby the writing head, as

when a stencil sheetis to be cut, may be placed in definite andpredetermined position over the platen so that fall of the type on tothe stencil sheet willbe insured in the area covered by the normal inkspot made on the stencil sheet when the latter is placed in animprinting machine or device. Accuracy of position oi the stenciledmatter with respect tosuchink spotthus is attained, and the operator isnot required to exercise any special care or skill in positioning thehead for the cutting operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the nature of theimprovements is better understood, the invention consistingsubstantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangementofpartshereinaiter described, illustrated in the accom panying drawings,and finally pointed out: inthe appended claims.

The form of the invention herein set forth is intended to delineate apractical adaptation of the inventive concept, but the inven- .65 thedisclosure thus made is to be taken in an tion is not limited to suchembodiment, and

illustrative and not a restrictive sense.

In the drawings i I i Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the herein describedattachment in its application to a flat-platen typewriting machine, thedotted lines illustrating one position of the'writing head occupied bythe latter with respect to the attachment. i

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the construction illustrated in F ig.' 1,a portion being in section, and the writing head being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

1 Fig. 4 is a similar view, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 i is a face elevation and stencil sheet with respect to which theherein described invent-ion has particular utility.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation illustrating the attachment in itsapplication to a fiat-platen of a record card typewriting machine, thehead thereon being positioned as when adapted forprinting pur,

.poseso Fig. 7 is a similar view, the head of the typewriting machinebeing positioned as when adapted forstencil cutting purposes.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8.8,'Fig. 7. i i iReferring now in detail to the accompany ing drawings, the numeral 10designates the writing head of a book or flat platen typewriting machineof the general type now commonly in use. This head is mounted forsliding reciprocatory movement on a pair of guide rails 11, whereby thehead may trav-' erse the flat platen and-become positioned for operationoi the type on the material positioned thereon. The usual constructionof machines of this general character also ineludes a pair oftransversely extending cross bars 12 and 13, which connect the guiderails i 11, and there is also included in the construction of themachine a sliding frame or carriage 14, part only of which isillustrated, on which the writing head 10 is mounted. The line-spacingmechanism is operated by a shift bar 15 to which is connected a handle16, and to said handle 16 pressure is applied by the operator foractuating the line spacing mechanism, and thereby to move the writinghead 10 over the platen.

The present invention contemplates a flat platen 17, which platen isconnected to the cross-bars 12 and 13 and suitably fastened thereto tobe held in rigid position thereon. At the edge portions of the platen 17are located inwardly directed overhan ing flanges 18, spaced a suitabledistance a ove the face of the platen to provide guide chan nels, andinto said guide channels the work or material to be printed upon orstenciled is introduced. As illustrating one instance of such material,there is shown in Fig. 5 a record card 19, such as commonly used inmerchandising establishments, said card hav ing provision thereon forendorsement of transactions with the customer whose name is usuallyprinted at the head of the card, as in the space 20. This card alsoincludes a stencil sheet 21, of the usual fibrous material employed forthis purpose, and said sheet has cut therein the name and address of thecustomer so that the stencil sheet may be employed in the addressing ofcommunications to the customer, and in other uses where the name andaddress of the customer is to be imprinted. This use of records of thisnature is well known and need not be further dwelt upon.

It has been stated that the presentinvention aims to provide meanswhereby the name of the customer, and his address, if desired, may beaccurately printed at the head of the card 19, and likewise his name andaddress cut in the stencil sheet 21 at such point as to insure the samebeing located in the {area covered by the normal ink spot thereof whenthe card is placed in an imprinting machine or device. To this endprovision must be made for properly positioning the card 19 on theplaten 17. When introduced to the platen the edges of the card 19 areinserted beneath the overhanging flanges 18, so as to .occupy the guidechannels formed between the same and the platen, and to facilitate thisintroduction the forward ends of the flanges 18, or the ends which arenearest to the operator as the latter faces the machine, are cutaway orflared, as at 22, thus {permitting the card 19 to be easily passed intothe space between the flanges 18. It 'js essential, however, that theinitial positioning of the card on the platen shall be accurately done,so that the printing space and the stencil sheet of the card may be{properly located with respect to the writing head 10 when the latter ismoved to the printing and cutting positions which it cc oupies ineffecting these operations. For such purpose the platen 17 has adjacentto its rear end a pair of upwardly extending studs 23, and the top endof the card 15) contacts these studs, and thus is limited in itsmovement when the card is introduced to the platen 17.

In order to prevent injury to the type of the writing head 10 in thestencil cutting operation, it is desirable that cushioning means may beprovided within the platen 17, and against which the impact of the typemay be effected during the cutting operation. For this purpose theplaten 17 has a transversely extending countersunk depression 2 1, whichlies in a plane below the upper surface of the platen. A rectangularframe 25 is arranged over this depression 2 1, the top sun face of theframe 25 lying flush with the top surface of the platen 17, and throughthe frame 25 communication is established with the countersunkdepression 24. The frame 25 has an outwardly flared mouthpiece 26, andthrough said mouthpiece 26 may be introduced a cushion sheet 27, whichmay be of celluloid or other suitable material oi yieldingcharacteristics. thereby to provide a cushion for the impact of the typeof the writing head 10. The location of the depression 21 and the frame25 which overlaps the same is such that when the card 19 is inserted between the flanges 18 and abuts the studs 23 the stencil sheet 21 will bepositioned directly above the opening of the frame 25 and the cushionsheet 27. Therefore, as the type cut the stencil sheet 21 liability ofdamage to the type is eliminated, the yielding character of the sheet.27 taking up the impact of the type and preventing such damage.

It has also been stated that the present invention aims to provide meansfor accurately positioning the writing head 10 in relation to thematerial to be printed upon or stenciled without the necessity of theoperator inspecting the area which receives the printmg or which is cut,and without laboriously searching for the proper point thereon forefiecti'ng the desired operations. To such end there is mounted on oneof the guide rails 11 a stop block 28 at one end of which is locatedan'upwardly extending contact head 29. The head 29 is in the path ofmovement of a connecting bar 30. which forms part of the machine frameor carriage of the writing head when the writing head 10 is moved in adirection away from the operator as the operator faces the mach ne. Theexact location of the stop block 28 is such that when the bar 30contacts the head 29 the line of writing of the head 10 will be in thespace 20 ot the card 19 as the latter occupies its position on theplaten 17.

Therefore. after the operator has placed the card 19 on the platen 17 inabutting relation to the studs 23, the simple movement by the lltl ,lii

29, will position the writinghead 10 in relation to the card so that thename of the'customer-may be written or typed upon the head of the card.

F or eil'ecting similar positioning of the head 10 with respect to thestencilfsheet 21 to enable the latter to be cut by the type of the heada stop dog 31 is mounted upon the frame of the head 10, which dog ispivoted in a slottedblock 32, as by a pin 33, or its equivalent. Thisdog 31 is in the form of abell-crank lever, the longer Jarm having alinkBet connectedthereto. The link 34 is also connected to a crank arm35 car-' ried by the rock shaft 15, and by connections it is obviousthat as the shaft 15 is rocked by the handle 16 to effect linearmovement of thewriting head 10, as when,

spacing, the stopdeg 31 also will be rocked on its pivot 33, therebyelevating the shorter arm of, the do The normal position, how-l ever, ofthe siorter arm ofthe dog 31 is such that when the carriage or frame. on

which the head.10 is mounted is moved to ward the operator, the shorterarm of the a dog 31 willicontact the stop block 28, and.

thus bring the carriage to rest. In such position the linefof writing,or the line of impact of thetype of the head 10, will be within thestencil sheet 21, and in the area covered by the normal ink spot of thesheet when the card 19 is placed in the print ofthe stenciled matterwill occurs at theimprinting operation At the time that the carriagethus isbrought to rest by con 1 tact of the stop dog with theistop block28,

the head 10 is positioned for cutting the first line in thestencilsheet. Foricutting the next succeedingline or lines, it is but necessaryto depress the handle 16 of the =line-shiftingmechanism, and in theinitial movement oi such depression the nose of the dog 31 is elevatedsuificiently high to clear the end of the stop block 28, and on the continued depression ofthe handle 16 so as to move the writing head10the'distance of one line space, the nose of the dog 31 entirely clearsthe block 28; VVhenthus positioned the second linemaybe cutin thestencil sheet, and if furtherlines are to be cut the writing head 10 isfree to move to the new 17051130115101 such cuttlng by additionalsuccessive depressions of the handle 16 for the spacing movement of thehead. If these additional lines be of sufficient number, the

nose of. the dog 31 ultimately will contact,

these i riage 10 to rest whensuch contact occurs, but at such-time theline- 'of impact of the type of the writing head 10 still will bewithin-the stencil sheet 21 and in the area covered bythe normal inkspot. This insures that all the matter cutin the stencil sheet will beembraced by the application of the ink when the stencil is positioned inthe imprinting machine or device.

From the foregoing description it is be lieved unnecessary further toset forth the operation of the mechanism, it being clearly apparent fromsuch description. It is to be observed, however, that the flanges 18serve toretain the edges of the card 19 in close relation to the platen17, so that the card lies flatupon the platen, andthus is so related tothe impactofthe typethat but minimum effort is required to effect theprinting and cutting operations. The studs 23 insure the initialpositioning of the card with accuracy upon the platen 17, and the'stopblock 28 inits co-actingrelation withthe cross-bar 30 and the stop dog-31,enable the writing head 10 to be. positioned accurately relatively tothe space of the card on which the printing-is to ,beeffected, as wellas with tespectto thestencil sheet which also is to be cut, so that thewriting mechanism be-, comes 13081 61611661. 1n definite andpredetermined location over the platen, which will permit the type tofall in the desired area on the surface to be printed upon or cut.

I claim: r i v i 1. In an attachment ofthe class described, thecombination with the writing head of a fiat-platen typewritingmachine ofa platen arrangedin a plane below said writing head, guideflangesassociated with said platen for guiding the surface to be acted on bythe Writing head to initial position in its introduction to the platen,the latter being provided, with a countersunk depression extendingtransversely and adapted to slidably receive a cushioningelement, acushioning element located in said countersunk depression forcushioningthe impact of the type of the writing head, and means with which saidhead co-operates to arrest its movement over; said platen and positionthe head so that its line of writing will occupy a predeterminedposition with respect to the surface to be written upon.

1 2. Inan attachment of the class described, the combination withthewriting head of a fiat-platen typewriting machine, and the support onwhich said head is slidably mounted, of a platen associated with saidsupport, a stop carried by said support to be contacted by the writinghead in one direction of head in such direction and locate the head inprinting position with respect to the work with the head 29, and thusbring the car-i supported by thep'lat'en, and means associated with thewriting head to engage such stop in reverse direction of movement of thehead to limit movement of the head in such reverse direction and locatethe head in stencilling position with respect to the work.

3. In an attachment of the class described, the combination with thewriting head of a flat-platen typewriting machine, and the support onwhich said head is slidably mounted, of a platen associated with saidsupport, a stop carried by said support to be contacted by the writinghead in one direction of movement of the latter with respect to saidsupport, whereby to limit movement of said head in such direction andlocate the head in printing position with respect to the work supportedby the platen, and means associated with the writing head to engage saidstop in the reverse direction of movement of the head to limit movementof the head in such reverse direction and locate the head in an initialstencilling position with respect to the work, the last mentioned meansincluding provision for varying its engaging relation to said stop.where by to permit variation of the stencilling po sition of the headwith respect to the work.

i. In an attachment of the class described, the combination with thewriting head of a flat-platen typewriting machine, and the support onwhich said head is slidably mounted, of a platen associated with saidsupport, a stop carried by said support to be contacted by the Writinghead in one direction of movement of the latter with respect to saidsupport. whereby to limitmovement of said head in such direction andlocate the head in printing position with respect to the work supportedby the platen, andimeans associated with the writing head to engage saidstop in reverse direction of movement of the head to limit movement ofthe head in such reverse direction and locate the head in stencillingosition with respect to the work, the operative relation of the lastmentioned means to said stop being con- 7 trolled by the line-spacingmechanism at the of said head in such direction and locate the head inprinting position with respect to the work supported by the platen. andmeans associated with the writing head to engage said stop in thereversedirection of movement'of the head to limitmovement of the head in suchreverse direction and locate the head in an initial stencillin-gposition with respect to the work, the last mentioned means includingprovision for varying its engaging relation to said stop. whereby topermit-variation ot' the stencilling position of the head with respectto the work, the operative relation of the last mentioned means to saidstop being controlled by the linesspacing mechanism of the writing head.

6. In an attachment of the class described, the combination with thewriting head or": a flat-platen typewriting machine, and the support onwhich said head is slidably mounted, of a platen associated with saidsupport, a stop carried by said support to be contacted by the writinghead in one direction of movement of the latter with respect to saidsupport, whereby to limit movement of said head in such direction andlocate the head in printing position with respect to the work supportedby the platen, and a pivoted dogassociated with the writing head toengage said stop in the reverse direction of movement of the head tolimit movement of the head in such reverse direction and locate the headin stencilling position with respect to the work.

7. In an attachment of the class described, the combination with thewriting head of a flat-platen typewriting machine. and the support onwhich said head is slidably mounted, of a platen associated with saidsupport,'a stop carried by said support to be contacted by the writinghead in one direction of movement of the latter with respect to saidsupport, whereby to limit movement of said head in such direction andlocate the head in printing position with respect to the work supportedby the platen. a pivoted dog associated. with the writing head to engagesaid stop in the reverse direction Off movement of the head to limitmovement of the head in such reverse direction and locate the head in aninitial stencilling position with respect to the work, and means forvarying the engaging relation of the dog to said stop, whereby to permitvariations of the stencilling position of the head with respect to thework.

8. In an attachment of the class described, the combination with thewriting head of a flatplaten typewriting machine, and the support onwhich said head is slidably mounted, of a platen associated with saidsupport,a stop carried by said support to be contacted by the writinghead in one direction of movement of the latter with respect to saidsupport, whereby to limit movement of said head in such direction andlocate the head in printing position with respect to the work supportedby the platen, and a pivoted dog associated with the writing head toengage said stop in the reverse direction of movement of the head tolimit movement of the head in such reverse direction and locate the headin stencilling position with respect to the work, the operative relationof said dog to said stop being controlled by the line-spacing mechanismof the writing head.

9. In an attachment of the class described, the combination with thewriting head of a flat-platen typewriting machine, and the support onwhich said head is slidably mounted, of a plat-en associated with saidsupport, a stop carried by said support to be contacted by the writinghead in one direction of movement of the latter with respect to saidsupport, whereby to limit movement of said head in such direction andlocate the head in printing position with respect to the work supportedby the platen, a pivoted dog associated with the writing head to engagesaid stop in the reverse direction of movement of the head to limitmovement of the head in such reverse direction and locate the head in aninitial stencilling position with respect to the work, and means forvarying the engaging relation of the dog to said stop, whereby to permitvariations of the stencilling position of the head with respect to thework, the operative relation of said dog to said stop being controlledby the line-spacing mechanism of the writing head.

10. In an attachment of the class described, the combination with thewriting head of a flat-platen typewriting machine, and the support onwhich said head is slidably mounted, of a platen associated with saidsupport, a stop block carried by said support and provided with anupwardly extending contact head, said stop block being contacted by thewriting head in one direction ofmovement of the latter with re spect tosaid support whereby to limit movement of the head in such direction andlocate the head in printing position with respect to the work supportedby the platen, a pivoted dog associated with the writing head to engagethe end of said stop block in the reverse direction of movement of thehead to limit movement of the head in such reverse direction and locatethe head in an initial stencilling position with respect to the work,and means for varying the position of engagement of the dog to said stopblock, whereby to clear the dog from engagement with the end of saidstop block and position the dog for engagement with the contact head ofthe stop block to limit the stencilling position of the writing headwith respect to the work.

11. In an attachment of the class described, the combination withawriting head of a fiat platen typewriting machine, of a platen arrangedin a plane beneath the said writing head, a stop on said platen, saidstop comprising two blocks one of which directly engages the writinghead, a dog carried by said writing head and operatively associated witha line spacing mechanism of said head for engagei'nent with one of saidstop blocks to arrest the movement of said writing head, said dog beingreleasable from said stop block by the ope 'ation of said line spacingmechanism and being subsequently engageable With the second stop blockupon continued operation of said line spacing mechanism.

12. The combination of a fiat platen hav ing longitudinal guides, awriting machine continuously movable on said guides along said platen,either in forward or backward direction, said machine having a linespacing mechanism for moving itbackwards step by step, stop means forstopping the machine on a predetermined point in the forward movement tobring it to a first writing position over a predetermined portion of,the length of the platen, a second stop means for stopping continuousbackward movement thereof in backward direction from said first positionat a predetermined second writing position along said platen, meansassociated with said line spacing mechanism for causing further backwardmovement of said machine past said second writing position uponactuation of said line spacing mechanism, and a third stop means forarresting any further backward movement of said machine.

13. The combination of a flat platen have ing longitudinal guides, awriting machine continuously movable on said guides along said platen,either in forward or backward direction, said machine having a linespacing mechanism for moving it backwards step by step, stop means forstopping the machine 011 a predetermined point in the forward movementto bring it to a first writing position over a predetermined portion ofthe length of the platen, a second stop means for stopping continuousbackward movement thereof in backward direction front said firstposition at a predetemined second writing position along said platen,means associated with said line spacing mechanism for causing furtherbackward movement of said machine past said second writing position uponactuation of said line spacing mechanism, and a third stop means forarresting any further backward movement of said machine, said platencarrying a stopping member common to the first, sec- 0nd and thirdstopping means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

NATHAN O. HEATON.

CERTEEMA'EE @QRREGHQN.

Patent No. 1,669,008. Gmntcad February 2L 1928, to

NATHAN G, MIQN It is hereby certified that Qiflil agzipeaifs iii fizeprim-ad spaciiimtim M the above numbzered mien? requiring cmfmmimn asifaiows; Page L Hue 3i; for the Word "e ffem" read "Mimi"; and thatflare said Matters Pamm should be read with this cmremion therein im wesame may mnflnm w Um meord of the case in the Patem: @Efice.

Signed and sealed this 2% day m March A. D F928,

M, 3, Meme,

Seal. Acting @wmmissimw 1)? Patents,

